Popstars targeted by stalkers

Popstars band Hear'Say called police to their £1 million hideaway twice in one day amid increasing fears about security.

The terrified singers dialled 999 after they were woken at 7.30am on Friday by a gang pounding on the windows of the secluded North London house they have shared since November.

And police were called for a second time at 11pm when the group returned from rehearsals to find a power cut at the house and a suspicious car parked outside.

The Mail on Sunday understands the five now fear they are open targets for stalkers after bosses at London Weekend Television removed the round-the-clock guard which had patrolled the house in Mill Hill.

In a separate development Kym Marsh, 24, Myleene Klass, 22, Suzanne Shaw, 19, Noel Sullivan, 20, and Danny Foster, 21, are furious with LWT bosses and executives at record company Polydor that they are receiving only £500-a-week cash expenses, despite selling more than 550,000 copies of their single.

They had been expected to leave the house after the ITV Popstars series ended last Sunday, but a busy schedule to promote their debut single has meant they have not had time to look for a new home. Instead they have asked Polydor to find somewhere.

A source close to Hear'Say, who are expected to notch up a second week at No 1 with Pure And Simple, said: 'All five are really spooked. They got back to the house after a day's work and all the lights were out.

'It seems somebody had managed to trip the electrics. The house is by itself down a gravel drive and it was very dark.

'Then when this strange car came up the drive, they freaked out. The police came straight away but they could not find anyone lurking around.'

A security guard had spent the day with the group after the incident on Friday morning.

'They were so scared they asked the guard to stay all night and he did,' said the source. 'But they can't wait to get out of the house. They don't feel safe there.

'They have been left high and dry by LWT now that the Popstars show is over and they are frightened. Fame has come to them in such a short space of time and the pressures it brings are getting to them.'

Hear'Say, whose debut album Popstars is released on Monday, moved in after being chosen from 3,000 hopefuls and had been followed virtually 24 hours a day by a TV crew.

Since the programme ended, the band have become increasingly paranoid about the lack of security. The source added: 'They feel LWT should be doing more for them. The house is secluded, the gardens are big and anyone could be wandering around.

'The house has a sophisticated alarm system and they always make sure it is on at night. They used to have a guy from LWT who was always around as security but now even he has gone.'

A friend added: 'Despite reassurances from the police, the band cannot help but feel totally exposed and vulnerable.'

LWT refused to comment, but a spokesman for Polydor said: 'Both of the incidents involved fans. It's an ongoing problem and we are looking at ways to improve security. They are moving out soon.'

The five are also increasingly unhappy about their earnings. They get 4p each for every £3.99 copy of their single sold. More than £2 million was made in the first week alone but the group received just £22,000 each.

They were given a £20,000 advance from the company when they were picked and £500-a-week cash expenses. But after grumblings, Polydor, estimated to have spent £1.5 million grooming the band for stardom, agreed to give them a 'top-up' of £4,000 each.

Sponsorship deals have also not provided the band with as much as they expected. They earned £4,000 each from a deal with the River Island clothing chain. A deal with Piaggio scooters earned Hear'Say £2,000 and a £1,749 scooter each.

The band are also said to be concerned about their cut of LWT Popstars merchandising, including dolls and greetings cards. A source added: 'There is concern among the band because all the contracts were signed before LWT gave them their own manager.'